The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Thomas R. Phillips (ASN: 0-5912), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility, as Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Antilles Department, from March 1942 to September 1945. Serving under five different commanding generals, General Phillips provided a continuity of basic policy which otherwise would have been impossible. He rendered able assistance in connection with the expansion and consolidation of the Puerto Rican Department and the Trinidad Sector and Base Command, absorption of the Antilles Air Command and Caribbean Division Engineers, reduction of troop basis following the invasion of Africa, demobilization of Coast Artillery units, and the general demobilization program following the victory. The revision of Selective Service standards in which he was instrumental made available to the Army a large force of Puerto Rican manpower. He gave valuable assistance to the Army Air Forces and the Transport Command in the Caribbean projects, and was responsible for much of the success achieved in eliciting the full and enthusiastic support of the Puerto Rican people in the war program.